A goal is scored by Gary Hooper from close range low into the middle of the goal. Celtic 2-0 St Mirren.Assist on the goal came from Anthony Stokes.

6:30

Gary Teale fouled by Victor Wanyama, the ref awards a free kick. David van Zanten restarts play with the free kick.

3:17

Georgios Samaras gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the box low into the middle of the goal. Celtic 1-0 St Mirren.

2:12

Glenn Loovens gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul McGowan. Free kick taken by Jim Goodwin.

1:47

The ball is delivered by Jeroen Tesselaar, clearance by Adam Matthews.

0:48

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Georgios Samaras by Jim Goodwin. Free kick taken by Beram Kayal.

0:27

The ball is swung over by Paul McGowan, clearance by Daniel Majstorovic.

Match Preview

Commons misses Buddies clash
Kris Commons is out of the Celtic squad for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with St Mirren at Parkhead.
The midfielder had to come off at half-time in the 2-1 win over Dunfermline in midweek with a thigh injury which is likely to keep him out for a couple of weeks.
Defender Glenn Loovens and striker Mohamed Bangura are back after recovering from hamstring and knee injuries respectively and while defender Charlie Mulgrew is over a hamstring complaint, a family bereavement means he misses out.
Saints have taken seven points from three games and have already secured a result in Glasgow this season thanks to Steven Thompson's late equaliser against Rangers.
Boss Danny Lennon said: "We'll certainly not just go there to make the numbers up, we'll go there with a bit of confidence and try and exploit Celtic's weaknesses.
"Celtic this season have been a wee bit of a bag of mixture. They failed to score against St Johnstone at home and Hibs at home but then they take four off Motherwell and five off Dundee United at home.
"So you never know what you are really going to get from them at this minute in time, although they are starting to put a string of winning performances together.
"We'll go with a different approach in what earned us a very good point at Ibrox and we'll try to keep that element of surprise for Celtic."
Aaron Mooy returns to the St Mirren squad. The Australian midfielder has recovered from the stress fracture of his back which has kept him out all season.
Hugh Murray is closing in on his comeback from knee surgery but will not be involved while Darren McGregor (knee) remains out for the season.

Formation:442Manager: Neil Lennon

Celtic

Formation: 4411Manager: Danny Lennon

St Mirren

Fraser Forster

Adam Matthews

Daniel Majstorovic

Glenn Loovens

Joe Ledley

James Forrest

Beram Kayal

Victor Wanyama

Georgios Samaras

Anthony Stokes

Gary Hooper

SUBS

Lukasz Zaluska

Badr El Kaddouri

Mohamed Bangura

Sung-Yeung Ki

Patrick McCourt

Andre Blackman

Dylan McGeough

Home

Away

Craig Samson

David van Zanten

Lee Mair

Marc McAusland

Jeroen Tesselaar

Kenny McLean

Jim Goodwin

Illias Haddad

Gary Teale

Paul McGowan

Nigel Hasselbaink

SUBS

Graeme Smith

David Barron

Steven Thompson

Joe McKee

Aaron Mooy

Jon McShane

Graham Carey

Match Report

Hooper treble lifts Celtic
A Gary Hooper hat-trick helped Celtic thrash St Mirren 5-0 and move within four points of Clydesdale Bank Premier League leaders Rangers.
It was the Hoops fifth straight win and they reiterated their title intentions in impressive style, although Rangers have a game in hand against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Sunday.
The first half belonged to the much-maligned Georgios Samaras as dreadful defending by the visitors allowed him to open the scoring in the fourth minute, with Hooper grabbing his first four minutes later from close range.
The former Scunthorpe striker scored twice more early in the second half before substitute Dylan McGeouch scored his first goal for the club in the 72nd minute with a wonderful solo effort which began when he won the ball in his own half.
The home fans hailed a new hero at the end, but the win was inspired by Samaras, who probably started the game only because Kris Commons was injured.
Defender Glenn Loovens replaced Ki Sung-yueng, who dropped to the bench, while St Mirren boss Danny Lennon dropped former Rangers striker Steven Thompson to the bench and brought in defender Illias Haddad, with Gary Teale replacing injured midfielder Steven Thomson.
But it was to no avail.
Just as they did in their 2-1 home win over Dunfermline in midweek, Celtic started the game strongly but Samaras only put them ahead after Saints defender Marc McAusland made a mess of trying to clear a harmless Joe Ledley pass.
The ball fell kindly to the Greece striker, whose low drive from the edge of the box was unconvincing, but goalkeeper Craig Samson let the ball squirm out of his hands and trickle over the line.
Four minutes later Samaras was involved again when he set up Anthony Stokes inside the box and his drive was tapped into an empty net at the back post by Hooper as the visitors appealed unsuccessfully for offside.
In the 19th minute Samaras set up Forrest with a cut-back after forcing his way into the box, but the Scotland international's left-footed effort was stopped by Samson.
After that Celtic's early enthusiasm waned somewhat. Stokes had the ball in the net with a drive but long after the offside flag was raised.
Thompson replaced Teale for the start of the second half but just seconds after the restart Samson had to make a close-range save from Hooper with the St Mirren defence in disarray.
In the 48th minute a flowing Celtic move ended with skipper Beram Kayal firing in a shot from Stokes' cross which was too close to Samson.
Moments later Samaras displayed his confidence with a snap-shot from 25 yards but Samson also saved with a degree of ease.
However, Saints' resistance crumbled and in the 53rd minute Celtic appeared to seal the points when Hooper grabbed his second.
Victor Wanyama's pass sent Stokes racing down the left and despite the attentions of McAusland, the Irishman cut the ball into the box for Hooper, who easily turned Lee Mair before firing past Samson from close range.
Three minutes later the former Scunthorpe player earned himself the match ball with another fine piece of finishing.
After getting the break of the ball when he tried a one-two with Forrest, he clipped the ball over Samson from 10 yards for his third.
In the 65th minute Celtic boss Lennon replaced Forrest with former Rangers youth player McGeouch and within minutes he grabbed a brilliant first goal for Celtic after robbing St Mirren midfielder Kenny McLean inside his own half.
He skipped past Buddies midfielder Jim Goodwin as he raced towards the St Mirren box, using Stokes as a decoy before driving low past the hapless Samson to confirm the convincing win.
In the final seconds Kayal's shot appeared to strike Mair on the hand but referee Steven McLean ignored penalty claims.
Celtic fans will now turn their attention to Rugby Park on Sunday to see if there is more encouragement in their rejuvenated title bid.